A deeply moving novel about a boy and his dream, from the prize-winning author of As You Were Jamie O'Neill loves the colour red. He also loves tall trees, patterns, rain that comes with wind, the curvature of many objects, books with dust jackets, cats, rivers and Edgar Allan Poe. At age 13 there are two things he especially wants in life: to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, and to connect with his mother Noelle, who died when he was born. In his mind these things are intimately linked. And at his new school, where all else is disorientating and overwhelming, he finds two people who might just be able to help him. How to Build a Boat is the story of how one boy and his mission transforms the lives of his teachers, Tess and Tadhg, and brings together a community. Written with tenderness and verve, it's about love, family and connection, the power of imagination, and how our greatest adventures never happen alone.

Meet Jamie, a boy with a big imagination and an even bigger dream, in the most uplifting book of the year 'A gorgeous gift of a novel, hopeful and full of humanity' - Douglas Stuart, Booker-Prize winning author of SHUGGIE BAIN Jamie O'Neill loves the colour red. He also loves tall trees, patterns, rain that comes with wind, the curvature of many objects, books with dust jackets, cats, rivers and Edgar Allan Poe. At age 13 there are two things he especially wants in life: to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, and to connect with his mother Noelle, who died when he was born. In his mind these things are intimately linked. And at his new school, where all else is disorientating and overwhelming, he finds two people who might just be able to help him. How to Build a Boat is the story of how one boy and his mission transforms the lives of his teachers, Tess and Tadhg, and brings together a community. Written with tenderness and verve, it's about love, family and connection, the power of imagination, and how our greatest adventures never happen alone. 'A heart-stopping read' - Sinéad Gleeson 'Bursting with soul' - Lisa McInerney 'I can't wait for readers to fall in love' - Jan Carson

Discover this unforgettable, darkly funny novel about the power of friendship and the heartbreak of family life - shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2021. 'AMAZING' Marian Keyes 'BEAUTIFUL' Douglas Stuart 'FABULOUS' Kevin Barry 'THRILLING' Nicole Flattery __________ Sinead Hynes is a tough, driven, funny young property developer with a terrifying secret. No-one knows it: not her fellow patients in a failing hospital, and certainly not her family. She has confided only in Google and a shiny magpie. But she can't go on like this, tirelessly trying to outstrip her past and in mortal fear of her future. Somehow, Sinead needs to seize the moment, and maybe then she can learn to be free... __________ An Evening Standard, Observer and Daily Telegraph Book of the Year An Observer Best Debut 2020 Winner of the Dalkey Book Festival Emerging Writer Award Winner of the McKitterick Prize 2020 Winner of the Kate O'Brien Award 2021 Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year 2020 'Extraordinary... This is writing that often reaches into your heart' Evening Standard 'Exhilarating...gloriously full of life' Irish Independent 'Feeney's voice is at once fresh and sharp, with an eye for comedy' Observer

WINNER OF THE KATE O'BRIEN AWARD 2021 SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE 2021 SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2020 AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT 2020 'Riveting... I was exhilarated reading this' Roddy Doyle Sinead Hynes is a tough, driven, funny young property developer with a terrifying secret. No-one knows it: not her fellow patients in a failing hospital, and certainly not her family. She has confided only in Google and a shiny magpie. But she can't go on like this, tirelessly trying to outstrip her past and in mortal fear of her future. Across the ward, Margaret Rose is running her chaotic family from her rose-gold Nokia. In the neighbouring bed, Jane, rarely but piercingly lucid, is searching for a decent bra and for someone to listen. Sinead needs them both. As You Were is about intimate histories, institutional failures, the kindness of strangers, and the darkly present past of modern Ireland. It is about women's stories and women's struggles. It is about seizing the moment to be free. Wildly funny, desperately tragic, inventive and irrepressible, As You Were introduces a brilliant voice in Irish fiction with a book that is absolutely of our times. 'Amazing... Brimful of brilliant characters - I LOVED IT!' Marian Keyes 'The diaologue just crackles, the characters are so alive and real, there's tragedy here, there's comedy, there's everything' Donal Ryan 'An absolutely fabulous book' Kevin Barry 'An absolute tour de force: raw, sharp and wild' Lisa McInerney 'A superb, unforgettable debut' Sinead Gleeson 'Funny and charming as well as dark and strong' Sarah Moss 'Funny, visceral, so well observed... I was blown away' Douglas Stuart **AN EVENING STANDARD, OBSERVER AND DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020**